'We have a young team so we need supporters to be positive'

CORK CITY manager John Caulfield is hopeful that a strong show of support can help his team to turn around their run of poor form when they host Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross this evening (5pm).

Defeat to Waterford on Friday made it five league games without victory for City. Sligo are level on 11 points with the Rebel Army and Caulfield wants to see a positive approach from the stands, mirroring what he hopes will be shown on the pitch.

“Obviously, it’s a young team, there’s tremendous support for the team and the club and people understand where we’re at,” he said.

“We all know that the results have been disappointing, but there’s an opportunity against Sligo to turn things around.

“We need supporters to be positive, we don’t want people coming to criticise the players. It’s our club in the city and county and we want everybody to get behind us, see if we can get the win and let’s have that positive feeling tomorrow.”

Winger Dáire O’Connor, injured in City’s last league win against Bohemians on March 15, returned on Friday as a sub and Caulfield is optimistic that the Wicklow native can play a part.

“It’s a tough schedule and we have a number of lads (short of full fitness),” he said.

“Dáire got 15 minutes the other night, he still has a bit to do. Obviously, Alan Bennett, Karl Sheppard, Colm Horgan are still out but young Darragh Crowley started and did well.

“The most important thing for our supporters that were at the game in Waterford, they would have seen that we played well in the first half, our passing and our movement were good.

“Up until the 75th minute, the game was on a knife-edge, but we’re just not creating as much at the moment.

“It’s a huge game for us and what I would say is that the team are giving everything.

“It’s been a tough run for them and I’d ask the supporters to come out in force, get behind the team and be positive from the start. It’s a game we have to win.”